Broom machine



E. C. C. MILLER BROOM MACHINE May 12, 1953 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 194'? lNvENToR Efned 6'. /lz'ef BY l# l z i ATTORNEY E. c. c. MILLER BRooM MACHINE May 12, 1953 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19. 1947 CA., n.

Y #ma ATTORNEY and Patented May 12, :1953

[UNITED STATES PArsr OFFICE Ernest C. C. Miller, Laurelton, N. Y.

Application February 19, 1947, Serial No. '729,467

My invention relates to a broom-filling machine generally similar to that described in Patent No.

2,323.42() vto Joseph S. Plumeau and myself, dated July 6, 1943. c

Mechanical sweepers employed by municipalities in street-cleaning operations use rotary brooms which, although tough and rugged, are subject toA such great wear as to necessitate frevquent maintenance. The KVmaintenance involves a complete rebuilding ofthe brooms. YIn municipalities in which large numbers of these sweepers are employed it frequently occurs that the brooms which must` be maintained are of greatly differ- 'ing' dimensions. lIn particular, broom lengths 'vary,and 'these brooms are mounted upon sup,- porting spindles of various sizes and configurations. Previous machines have been unable to accommodate the Wide variety of broom types which must be serviced.

Itis, accordinglyan object of my invention'to rprovide an improved broom-filling machine of words, it is desired to keep the productivity of the machine at a highv level regardless of the variety vof types of brooms successivelys'erviced. Other objects and various further features of the invention will be pointed out or will occur to ythose skilled in the art ,from a reading of the fouo'wing specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partially broken-away front view of a machine incorporating features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a right-hand side view of the machine of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially in the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Broadly speaking, my invention contemplates a broom machine comprising a frame in rwhich a cable drum is revolubly supported at both ends, in which a broom drum is revolubly supported at one end by the frame and at its other end by a longitudinally adjustable jour- 1 Claim. (Cl. 242-7) 2 nalling means. Torques may be applied to rotate either the cable drum or a broom depending upon the operation that is to be performed. In the specic form to be described, the adjustable journalling means for the broom drum is slidable in ways extending the full longitudinal length of the machine, and a broom drum once inserted on the machine is immediately engageable with the drive means. No brakes, adapters, or other fixtures need be applied. or adjusted on a broom drum, once mounted upon the machine. Referring to the drawings, my invention is shown in application to a machine having a frame comprising longitudinally extending base members 5, upstanding side members 6-1 at both ends,

atop beam or brace 8, rearwardly extending base chine, namely, in the upstanding frame member l,

fixed journalling means I4 are provided for one end of a broom drum l5 to be accommodated and serviced on the machine. v

In accordance with the invention, the other lend ofthe broom drum l5 is supported in longi- `in longitudinally extending ways.

tudinally adjustable journalling means E6. The journalling means It may be formed with or carried by a generally upright memberi'l slidable In the form shown, the upper end of the adjustable member I1 includes a bushing IB surrounding and slidable along the cable drum, and the lower end is formed with a slide member IS engaging tracks or ways 20 which maycomprise. a channel membercsecured at both ends to the upright frame members 6--'l. YThe slide member` i9 may include a pairl of arms 2I-22 embracing both anges of the channel 2i) and a clamping hand screw member 23 for anchoring the adjustable member Il, for any particular length of broom to be serviced.

Drive means for the broom drum l5 may include a worm wheel 24 joui-nailed as at 25 in a builtout portion 26 of the frame of the machine. This drive means preferably also includes a dog member 21 for engagement with a corresponding dog or lug part 28 ca-rried by the broom l 5 to be serviced.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, worm means are employed to drive the Worm wheels I 3-24, and a simple manual adjustment is all that is needed for associating this worm means with either of the worm wheels t3--24. In the form shown, the worm means comprises a shaft 29 supporting two spaced worms Bil- 3l which are preferably so positioned that either of these worms 3U-3I is in engagement with one or the other of the worm wheels 13 24. The shaft 30 may be journalled at both ends in a cradle 32 which is preferably supported by the frame l for slight pivotal or rocking displacement about a transversely extending axis. In the form shown, the transverse support for the cradle 32 includes a bracket 33 secured to the frame member "l and a stub shaft 34 in the bracket 33. Rotary power may be supplied to the worm shaft 29 through a fiuid motor 35 carried at the lower end thereof and connected by a suitable arrangement of pipes 36 to an electrically driven pump 3T on the lower part on the frame of the machine. A treadle mechanism 38 at the front of the machine may be employed to operate a flowcontrol valve 39 for regulating the speed of drive by the motor 35. Selective engagement of the driving worms :l-3| with one of the worm wheels I3--24 may be eifected through a manual crank 49, accessible from the front end of the machine and threadedly associated with a part 4l of the cradle 32.

The operation of my machine in llling a new broom is as follows. Before installation upon the machine, the broom I is iltted with a dog 28 of size appropriate for the spindle on that particular broom. Also before installation, the adjustable journalling means lli is longitudinally positioned for the correct length of the new broom l5, as by sliding the top bushing I8 along the cable drum Il, and the lower slide I9 along the ways 28. Journal clamps 42-43 are released, and both the machine and the broom are ready for installation. Once the broom is mounted in the journals |4--|6, the dog 28 and the dog 21 will engage one another, and final longitudinal adjustment of the journalling member I1 may be eifected before clamping the same, as by turning the hand set 23. Journal clamps 42, 43 may then be set. If the broom is an old one to be reserviced, a chain 44, secured at one end to the cable drum Il, is attached at the other end to the cable 65 (then wound on the worn brush). This cable 45 is iirst wound upon the cable drum Il, as by engaging the worm with the Worm wheel 3l and by applying a tautening brake 4S to the broom-drum drive means before stepping upon the treadle 38 to rotate the cable drum Il. When the cable 45 is completely wound upon the cable drum Il, the broom drum I5 is ready for i cable-drum tautening brake 4l', and by a simple turning of the crank so as to mesh the worm 3l with the ,worm wheel 34. The completely filled broom may be nished-ofl by securing the chain-end of the cable to the broom drum l5 (as b'y tasking or stapling the cable to the drum l5) The lled broom may then be removed after releasing the chain 44 from cable 45 and relaxing the journal clamps 42-43. The machine will then be ready to accommodate the next broom. After removal 4from the servicing machine, the only operation necessary before installing the relled broom in a street-sweeping machine is a simple removal of the adapter dog 28.

It will be appreciated that I have described a machine which lends itself readily to the eiicient maintenance of a variety of broom types and sizes. The construction is such that shut-down time for the machine during periods of adjustment and adaptation is held to an absolute minimum While I have described myfinvention in detail for, the preferred form shown, it will be understood that modifications may ber made within the scope of the invention as dened in the claim which follows.

I claim:

In a machine of the character indicated, a cable drum for winding a broom cable, broom-drum supporting means for a broom to be serviced, braking means for said cable drum and for a broom drum held in said supporting means, a worm wheel associated with said cable drum for c driving the same, a worm wheel for driving a broom drum held by said supporting means, a casing pivotally supported between said worm wheels for selective rocking toward one or they..

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,390,957 Hosch Sept. 13, 1921 1,393,500 Clark Oct. 11, 1921 1,869,545 Crafts Aug. 2, 1932 2,163,010 Richards et al June 20, 1939 2,323,420 Plumeau et al July 6, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 287,144 Italy July 8, 1931 

